Approximately
140,000; Approximately 40,000 men were citizens; and slaves (about
40,000). By 432 BC, Athens had become the most populous city-state in
Hellas. In Athens and Attica, there were at least 150,000 Athenians,
around 50,000 aliens, and more than 100,000 slaves.

Approximately
8,000 Spartiates (adult male citizens) ruled over a population of 100,000
enslaved and semi-enslaved people.

Government
& Political organizations

Athenian
Government
Usually classified as a "direct democracy" (because everyone,
not just politicians attended the Assembly), Athens claims to be the
"birthplace of democracy".

Elected officials including 10 generals (strategos), magistrates
(archons), and others.

Council of 500 was charged with administering decisions made by
the Assembly.

The Assembly open to all citizens (all citizens were eligible to
attend such meetings and speak up). They passed laws and made policy
decisions. The Assembly met on the Hill of the Pnyx at the foot of the
Acropolis.

During time of Pericles citizens were paid for jury service so
not only the wealthy could participate.

Women did not participate in the political life of Athens.

Spartan
Government: Usually classified as an "oligarchy" (rule by a
few), but it had elements of monarchy (rule by kings), democracy (through
the election of council/senators), and aristocracy (rule by the upper
class or land owning class).

Two kings who were generals in command of the armies and with
some religious duties.

Five overseers (ephors) elected annually ran the day-to-day
operations of Sparta. They could veto rulings made by the council or
assembly.

Council or Senate (apella) of 28 councilmen (men over 60 and
elected for life by the citizens) and the 2 kings. They acted as judges
and proposed laws to the citizens' assembly.

The Assembly of all Spartan males aged 30 or over could support
or veto the council's recommendations by shouting out their votes.

Women did not participate in the political life of Sparta.

Social
Structure

Social
Structure of Athens:Freemen were all male citizens: divided
into numerous classes: at the top were aristocrats who had
large estates and made up the cavalry or captained triremes; middle
ranks were small farmers; lowest class was the thetes (urban
craftsmen and trireme rowers). Metics - those who came from outside
the city; they were not allowed to own land, but could run industries and
businesses. Slaves were lowest class, but less harshly treated than
in most other Greek cities. Slaves had no rights, and an owner could kill
a slave. Slaves varied in status: some were given important roles in
Athens, like policemen. Women were rarely seen outside the home and had no
rights in the Athenian democracy.

Three classes: Spartiates (military professionals who lived
mostly in barracks and whose land was farmed by serfs; they served in the
army and could vote).

Perioeci
or "neighbors/outsiders" who were freemen; they included
artisans, craftsmen, merchants; they could not vote or serve in the army;
foreigners could be in this class.

Helots (serfs descended from those peoples who had resisted
subjugation by Sparta and who were constantly rebelling.) They were treated
like slaves and gave 1/2 of their produce to the Spartiate citizens who
owned the land.

Women had few rights, but were more independent in Sparta than
elsewhere in Greece.

Allies

Delian
League (with Athens clearly the most powerful); Athens taxed and protected
other city-states.

a
Peloponnesian League (with Sparta clearly the most powerful).

Military
strength

Strong
navy.

Strong
army, best and most feared fighters on land.

Life
style and values

Democratic
values for citizens. They believed in participation in government as a
civic responsibility. Athenians believed in their cultural superiority and
in their role in an empire and benefiting from trade. (See Pericles'
Funeral Oration showing these values.) "Further, we provide many
ways to refresh the mind from the burdens of business. We hold contests
and offer sacrifices all the year round, and the elegance of our private
establishments forms a daily source of pleasure and helps to drive away
sorrow. The magnitude of our city draws the produce of the world into our
harbor, so that to the Athenian the fruits of other countries are as
familiar a luxury as those of his own."

Spartan
culture: Militaristic values. Children of citizens were raised to be
"Spartan", taught to get along with almost nothing. Spartiate
citizens were not permitted to own gold or silver or luxuries. Spartan
children were taught to respect elderly, women, and warriors. [The strict
separation of classes and militaristic system was put into place by Lycurgus
in the 7th century BC.]

Spartan mothers would say to their sons, "Either come back with
your shield or on it" (meaning return victorious or die fighting).

This lifestyle was praised by Xenophon,
an ancient historian c. 375 BCE.

Education

Boys:
Schools taught reading, writing and mathematics, music, poetry, sport and
gymnastics. Based upon their birth and the wealth of their parents, the
length of education was from the age of 5 to 14, for the wealthier 5 - 18
and sometimes into a student's mid-twenties in an academy where they would
also study philosophy, ethics, and rhetoric (the skill of persuasive
public speaking). Finally, the citizen boys entered a military training
camp for two years, until the age of twenty. Foreign metics and slaves
were not expected to attain anything but a basic education in Greece, but
were not excluded from it either.

Girls:
Girls received little formal education (except perhaps in the aristocrats'
homes through tutors); they were generally kept at home and had no
political power in Athens. The education of a girl involved spinning,
weaving, and other domestic art.

Boys:
Boys were taken from parents at age seven and trained in the art of
warfare. They were only give a cloak - no shoes or other clothes, and not
enough food so they had to steal (to learn survival skills). At age
20 they were placed into higher ranks of the military. To age 30 they
were dedicated to the state; then they could marry but still lived in
barracks with other soldiers. They were educated in choral dance, reading
and writing, but athletics and military training were emphasized. Girls:
Girls were educated at age 7 in reading and writing, gymnastics, athletics
and survival skills. Could participate in sports; treated more as equals.

Role
of women

Athenian
women:
Athenian women and girls were kept at home with no participation in sports
or politics. Wives were considered property of their husbands. They were
were responsible for spinning, weaving and other domestic arts.
Some women held high posts in the ritual events and religious life of
Athens (where the goddess Athena was the patron). Prostitutes and
courtesans were not confined to the house. Some became influential such as
Aspasia (see the 'Character Stories section of this Web site).

Spartan
women and the role
of Spartan women:
Girls were educated in reading and writing and could participate in
sports; they were treated more as equals to men. The goal was to produce
women who would produce strong healthy babies. At age 18 she would be
assigned a husband and return home. Citizen women were free to move around
and enjoyed a great deal of freedom. Domestic arts (weaving, spinning,
etc.) were usually left to the other classes. Spartan women could own and
control their own property. In times of war the wife was expected to
oversee her husband's property and to guard it against invaders and
revolts until her husband returned.